REVIEW: Less than Jake, Hello Rockview (Capitol)
- Kerwin So
Q: Why couldn't the rude boy with one arm skank?
A: Because he couldn't pick it up!
All right, so I admit that joke was less than jake, "jake" of course being the slang equivalent to "cool" or "swell". Don't confuse that with the Florida band Less Than Jake, who actually happen to be pretty swell, all things considered. I'll skip the stuff about their rock-solid history of DIY ethics, broad-based appeal, and impeccable choice of cover tunes, just to say that the band's latest release on major-label villain Capitol, Hello Rockview, offers another solid platter of straight ahead, perfectly executed, ska-punk.
The fourteen tight originals (I think), clocking in at under 40 minutes, overflow with crunchy three power-chord 'n' brass fun, sunny harmonies, and the requisite goofy song titles like "Help Save the Youth of America from Exploding" and "All My Best Friends are Metalheads". There are less samples and horns here than one might expect from Less Than Jake (more punk than ska, let's say), but nonetheless, look for Hello Rockview - with any number of "modern rock" radio-ready hits - to win over even more fans to the ever-expanding and sweaty LTJ camp.
There's probably lyrics about Pez in here somewhere, but I was too busy high-steppin' it to catch 'em. Despite the fact that Hello Rockview blasts an overall uniform sound that rarely strays from the ska-punk formula, it will nonetheless have the kids bouncing off the walls yet again-- even those with only one arm.
